Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1414289
22 PalletCentral • September-October 2021 palletcentral.com Challenging Times To Overcome T he first two quarters of 2021 for the hardwood lumber industry have been "the best of times and the worst of times." The Charles Dickens introduction describes the marketplace for loggers, sawmills and distribution and end users. The scale is tipped to "best" or "worst" depend- ing on the week and where each is in the forest products supply chain. Economic recovery from the COVID-19 pan- demic in 2020 has generated a boom for hardwood and softwood lumber demand in 2021. Buyers need industrial and grade lumber to meet the demand for their goods while attempting to replenish inventories. Lumber producers are working diligently to make more but workforce limitations and timber availability have hurt capacity. WOOD SUPPLY CHAIN By Tom Inman The forest products supply chain is experiencing a difficult, evolving supply and demand environment. Is change on the horizon? Ask any lumber buyer, whether they are seeking industrial material for pallets, ties or mats and grade material for furniture, flooring or millwork, and they will tell you it is TIGHT. All are in high demand during this year of recovery. For the first time, I hear sawmills and distribution yards are pricing lumber "to be determined at the time of shipment." What? Priced at the time of shipment? Are buyers accepting that? They are, if they want the lumber. The phrase is more common from sellers who are sold out for weeks. If the buyer is not willing to give the order with a price "to be determined," there is a buyer behind him or her who will. It is amazing. This contributes to the "best of times" for lumber producers. Every board and cant has a market and this demand has pushed many species and grades to all-time high prices. Appalachian Mountains – iStockphoto.com/WerksMedia